Posts Tagged ‘caffeine’

Whether you are in the gym day in and day out or just a few times a week, there are days when it can be extremely difficult to muster up the strength and energy needed to complete the most intense workouts. This is exactly where pre-workout supplements can come in handy. However, if you have done any research on the topic whatsoever, you have probably discovered that there are tons of people out there saying that these supplements contain dangerous carbs and fillers that just cause bloating and severe fatigue. Sure, this might be true to some sense, but there are healthier alternatives on the market. Below are the ingredients that you need to focus on the most.(more…)

I get plenty of questions in various comments throughout the website, but I also get comments and questions via the contact form.

In the past I have address those questions through e-mail, but often I do not have the time to reply to each and every question personally. I want to take a more proactive approach to answering Your Questions by posting them in the blog. This way we can be sure that everyone benefits from the Q & A.

Joe wrote:

“I have heard that too much caffeine can be detrimental to muscle growth because of its tendency to increase cortisol which has catabolic effects. That being said, it also stimulates testosterone production, so its actual effects are a little unclear. Here’s a little medical study I found on the web to back it up:

On some level, we all know that caffeine is not exactly good for us, at least not in large doses and certainly not when it comes from sugary sodas or coffee drinks loaded up with cream and sugar (Starbucks: proudly serving 10% coffee in every coffee drink!). But whether you’re a soda hound or you drink black coffee throughout the day, you’ve likely experienced side effects like the jittery high that keeps you working like mad for an hour followed by the comatose state that leaves you craving more.

Then there are the headaches that plague truly devoted caffeine enthusiasts who don’t get their fix in a timely manner. I haven’t personally experienced this, but I have no less than 5 friends or aquaintances that do.

However, imbibing a moderate amount of caffeine can actually have some benefits for the casual drinker. Aside from giving you that extra boost of energy and focus, it can also have healthy effects for those who have the proper enzymes to break it down efficiently, potentially reducing the risk for heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and even some forms of cancer, according to various studies.

OK, I might be stretching it a little bit with that post title, but the facts are the facts: coffee does have positive health benefits, the most recent being that coffee may cut down the risk of developing head and neck cancer.

The results were pooled from 9 other studies done throughout the years, and scientists feel confident in saying that the risk of developing head and neck cancer was 12 percent lower in people who drank coffee compared with those who didn’t.

In this case more is better, as people who drank more than 4 cups of coffee a day had a 33% less chance of developing the cancer. Now, I’m not trying to drink 5 cups of coffee a day, but I won’t feel too bad if I have 2 or even 3 cups.

Decaffeinated coffee and tea had no measure effect on decreasing the risk of head and neck cancer.

Alzheimer’s Disease is an awful malady that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

This is a disease that destroys the mind, often causing its victims to fail to recognize even their closest loved ones, making daily living nearly impossible without round-the-clock supervision.

A study published by the University of South Florida in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease concludes that if human brains functioned the same as mouse brains, caffeine would be effective at reversing the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease.